Leak-stopper



W. F. HIEGGBY- LEAK soPPER ron SHIPS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. l9vl6. 1,195,01 3. PatentedAug. 15,1916.v

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

v l M@ W. F. HIEGGBY.

LEAK sToPPER FOR sHlPs MILICATION FILED MAR. 29.1916. v A

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

111K sToPPER PoR SHIPS.r

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, I9I6.

' Patented Aug. 15,1916.

`3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

QI m Q IIl :: 0 R m QI WILLIAM F. HIEGGBY, F CAMBRIDGE, MARYLAND.

LEAK-STOPIER FOR SHIPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 191,6.

Application led March 29, 1916. Serial N o. 87,438.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, VILLIAM F. HIEGGBY, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Dorchester and State of Maryland, have invented certa-in new and useful Improvements in Leak-Stoppers for Ships, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in leak stoppers for ships. v

The object of my invention is to provide a leak stopper of this character which can be readily applied from the inside of the vessel and which is adapted to fit openings or leaks of dierent sizes. f

Anotherv object of 'my invention is to provide a leak stopper of this character which is applicable to either a wooden or steel vessel and having certain details of structure and operation as hereinafter fully set forth.

A still further object of the-present improvement is to so construct a device that it may be readily applied to any size opening,

' ranofinOr from a ver small hole to 'a ver large one.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved leak stopper. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the device applied to a ship hull to stop a large hole or leak. Fig. 3 is a. fragmentary sectional View of the end of the leak stopper which goes on the outside of the hull of the ship. Fig-4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section of one of the extension arms applied'to the rib or brace of the ships frame. Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing the device applied to a small hole and showing the extension rods in position.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several figures, 1 represents a cylindrical rod provided with coarse screw threads 2, throughout its entire length, one end thereof being provided with a handle 3, having va lug 4 lying adjacent the rod 1 and pivotally mounted at 5. The other end of the rod 1 is provided with a nely screw thread portion 6 adapted to receive a head 7. This head 7 carries the means for engaging the outside of the hull of the ship to which it is applied and consists of a triangular shaped body portion 8, the outer end of which terminates in a coneshaped member 9, An ear 10 is formed on each of the faces of thehead 8 near the inner end thereof and above the center of the rod 1. Three arms 11 are provided, one being pivotally mounted at 12, on each of the ears 10. The arms 11 are of band steel and have their .lower ends bent at right angles to form a stop 13 and are bifurcated at 14 to straddle the ears 10. Loops 15 are attached to the head 8 where the said head joins the member 9, and three other loops 16 are provided on the arms 11 a short distance away from their pivotal mounting upon the'head 8. Coil springs 17 have their ends connected to the loops 15 and 16 and are in their normal contracted position when the stops 13 lie against the head 8. A disk 18 having internal screw threads 19 is mounted on the rod 1 and adapted to be screwed in and out on the said rod. This disk 18 is provided on one face, that is nearest the head 8, with a felt packing 20 secured thereto by means of two bolts 21, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth. The other face of the disk 18 is provided with four members 22, provided with two openings 23 and serving as guideways. These members 22 are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the center ofthe disk 18. The guide-ways 22 receive four rods 24 adapted to be slid in and out of openings therein. The openings 23 are arranged side by side and the rods 24 consequently are arranged parallel. The members 22 being arranged in pairs cause the openings 23 in each to register with each other whereby each rod has two supports, as is clearly illustrated.

A set screwv22 is provided, one of each members 22 to hold each rod in any position in which it is set. Set in each rod 24 adjacent its endi's a link connection comprising two plates 25 and 26 jutting against the opposite sides of a flattened portion 27, pro- -vided on the adjacent ends of the segregated rod. The plates and flattened portions 27 are pivotallyl connected at 28. The outermost ends of the rods 24 are provided with attaching clamps 29 having on one end an ear 30,A pierced by an opening 31 to receive the rod 24 and having its other end bifurcated at 32 to straddle the edgeof a rib or brace of the ship,'as is clearly shown. Set screws 33 are provided holding the bifurcated ends 32 in position on the rib or brace and set screws 34 are provided to hold the ends of the rods 24 in any desired positions within the ears 30. From the foregoing it is apparent that the rods 24E may be adjusted in and out in their guide-ways to fit the exigencies of the circumstances; also that the clamps 29 may be varied by sliding them o-n the rod and may also be turned to either" side of the center of the rod due to the link connection in the rod. The use of this link connection is apparent when the clamp is litted on a curved rod or brace of the frame, as is shown in Fig. 5. The disk 18 is provided at its center with a collar 35 on which is mounted a handle or wrench 8G, the inner end .thereof being bifureated aft 87, the bifurcated end pivotally connected to the collar at 88. This handle 86 provides means for screwing the disk 18 in and out on the rod 1.

When my improved leak stopper is not in use the arms 11 are folded back against the rod 1, as is shown in dotted lines in Fig. and are held in this position by means of a. ring 39, which is passed over the ends of the rods 11.

In Fig. 2, A represents the outer shell of the ship; B the inner shell; C an I-beam forming a connection between the two shells, and D a rib or brace on the interior of the inner shell. The distance between the two shells and the size of the ribs of course vary according to the size of the ship and the manner of constructing the frame. Usually where a hole is punched through the vessel, it extends through both the inner and outer shells and heretofore it has been necessary to apply the leak stopper from the outside of the vessel, which is not at all practical. lVhen a hole is stove in the side of the vessel, the cone-shaped member 9 of my improved device is passed through the opening in the inner and outer shells and the arms 11 when freed on the outside of the vessel spring out and occupy the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The arms then span the hole made in the vessel and lie against the outer shell A, as is shown in Fig. 2. It is to be understood that different size heads 8 may be kept on board ship so that only the very large heads are used when the circumstances demand it, although when desired only the largest size may be carried on the ship since the large size will be adapted to be used where the hole is either small or large. After the arms 11 are in position, the disk 18 is then screwed down adjacent the inner shell B. Vhere the hole in the inner shell is larger than the disk 18, boards, mattresses, rags or packing of any kind is inserted between the inner shell B and the adjacent face of the disk 18. In Fig. 2, boards E and F are shown fitted in place between the inner shell and the disk. The extension arms 24 are also applied where the boards used are large `or much packing is employed. In this case the clamps 29 are applied to adjacent ribs or braces and the boards fitted underneath the arms as well as between the disk 18 and the inner shell B. Due to the link connection in the arms 24 the outer end maybe bent downward as is shown in Fig. 1, allowing considerable space between the inner shell B and the underside of the rods 241.

When the hole punched through the vessel is very small the leak stopper' is applied in the following manner. The head 8 is removed and only the end of the rod 1 fitted into the opening in the outer shell. The disk 18 is then screwed down `tight against the inner shell and is held in `this position by means of the clamp 29 carried by the extension arms 24 as is shown in Fig. 5. In this instance the pressure is-eaused between the stationary arms and the `movable disk. W hen the head 8 is employed, however, the pressure is caused between thefarms 11 and the disk 18, as is readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A leak stopper comprising a carrier, and a movable follower mounted on said carrier and movable in and out on the carrier, and means carried by the follower and attachable to the inside of the vessel for hold- `ing .the packing between the follower and the inside of the vessel.

2. A leak stopper comprising a carrier, a stationary expansible member carried on one end thereof, and a movable follower mounted on the said carrier and movable toward and away from the eXpansible member, and attachable extensions carried bythe follower for enlarging the size thereof.

3. A leak stopper comprising a carrier, a stationary expansible member carried on one end thereof, the said expa-nsible member comprising a body portion, folding arms mounted on the Abody portion .and resilient means for normally holding the said folding arms at substantially right angles to the carrier, and a movable follower mounted on the said carrier and movable toward and away from the expansible member.

4. A leak stopper comprising a car-rior, a stationary expansible member carried on one end thereof, said member comprising a body portion, arms pivotally connected to said body portion, resilient means for normally holding the said arms at right angles to the carrier, said arms .provided with a stop for limiting their movement under the tension ofthe resilient means, and a movable follower vmounted on the said carrier and lmovable toward and away from the expansible member.

5. A leak stopper 'comprising a carrier, a stationary expansiblemember carried on one end thereof, and a Vmovable follower mounted on the said carrier and movable toward and away from the expansible member, the said follower comprising a body portion arranged at right angles to the carrier, guide ways carried by one face of the said body portion and eXtension arms adjustably mounted within the said guide-ways.

6. A leak stopper comprising a carrier, a stationary expansible member carried on one end thereof, said member when in its eX- panded position adapted to engage the outside of the vessel, and a movable follower mounted on the said carrier and movable toward and away from the expansible member, said follower comprising a body portion arranged at right angles to the carrier and adapted to be moved to engage the inside of the vessel, guide-ways carried by the follower and extension arms adjustably mounted on the said guide-ways, and clamps carried by the ends of the said arms adapted to clamp the adjacent ribs or braces on the nside of the vessel, for the purpose described.

7 A leak stopper comprising a carrier, a stationary expansible member carried on one end thereof, said member when in its expanded position adapted to engage the outside of the vessel, and a movable follower mounted on the said carrier and movable toward and away from the eXpansible member, said follower comprising a body portion and arranged at right angles to the carrier and adapted to be moved to engage the inside of the vessel, guideways carried by the follower and extension arms adjustably mounted on the said guide-ways, clamps carried by the ends of the said arms adapted to clamp the adjacent ribs or braces on the inside of the vessel, a link connection in the eX- tension arms providing means whereby the clamps carried by the outer ends thereof may be moved to occupy any position, the y parts arranged as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. HIEGGBY. Vitnesses:

EARLE W. OWEN, JAMES E. Rnnsn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

